Third Major Nichols Ride 11 May 2008
23 April 2008

Dear Friends,

This year we have planned a sociable chinwag before a gentle ride, without last year’s more formal exchange of the marque’s history that we held in the morning. Just come along on your Major Nichols, or perhaps your Gameson, Holland, Wilson, or any other local frame and enjoy the company of like-minded people, to keep alive the memory of Black Country cycle makers.

Tim Harris has again devised a route on local roads that we believe should be even quieter that last year. As it turns out the route will be slightly shorter than in 2007 if you follow the main group - just 16 miles. However, should you wish for a shorter or a longer ride there will be plenty of scope for you to make short cuts or add an additional minor loop to the suggested ride. As before Walter Fowler will lead out the group ride for those who would like to keep together as on a club run of old.

To mark the different content of the day we are trying a new venue this year. We will use Rowberry’s Garden Centre (OS Explorer 219 892730), which is on the left about 400 yards past Chaddesley Corbett village when travelling eastwards on the A448. Meet here to park up and chat over coffee/tea/cakes from 1000 for a 1130 start. There are of course other country pubs along the route should you wish to lunch at any of these or just at the end of the ride will be the Swan as well as the other Chaddesley Corbett pubs, whilst Rowberry’s too will still be open for lunch or afternoon teas.

Rowberry’s have said that if arriving by car we should park in the shale carpark on the right not in the small parking area immediately in front of the retail area. We hope you will make good use of Rowberry’s facilities as a thank you to their allowing us the use of the parking area.

As last year, I can supply some casual clothing with pleasing Major Nichols insignia. I will take orders on the day for subsequent postal delivery but any orders from the enclosed forms that I receive before Tuesday 6 May (you will need to be quick to return the cut off reply forms!) will have a fighting chance of being available on the day of the ride. Please use the telephone or email to place orders if that is easier for you

Looking forward to seeing you all and any new friends on 11 May,

Alvin Smith,
Major Nichols ME

0 From Rowberry’s Garden Centre leave carpark and turn right onto A448 Take care
1 Turn left in 100 yds into Fox Lane, then in 900 yds pass Longhope Farm on your right
2 At the Farm keep left and after 600 yds pass The Old Barn on your left
3 Fork right here and after 1000 yds pass Deanslake Nurseries and turn right at T junction on Cursley Lane then after 1200 yds turn left at crossroads to Shenstone
4 After 700 yds turn left at Plough Inn, and left again, proceed 1000 yds to road junction where keep left
5 After 1000 yds reach A442, Take care and turn left towards Cutnall Green but after 200 yds
6 Sharp left onto Cursley Lane (to Mustow Green) and proceed 800 yds
7 Take first right (you have been on this road earlier) and at 1000 yds
8 Take sharp right onto Cakebole Lane ( signposted to Rushock and Droitwich)
9 After 1000 yds turn left into Rushock village pass the church on left after 300 yds turn left into Park Lane then
10 Proceed 1000 yds and turn sharp left into Cluttercut Lane, after 100 yds
11 Turn right into Purshall Green Lane and after 2000 yds and pass Badger Court (on right)
12 Turn Left after Badger Court, (signed Timberhanger/Upper Warren) and after 300 yds then
turn left again onto Berry lane and proceed 4000 yds
13 At A448 Take care turn right (towards Bromsgrove) after 150 yds turn left
14 Proceed 1200 yds and fork left into Woodcote Green Lane through Santery Hill Wood (Ancient woodland, well worth a brief visit)
15 Fork Left and proceed 800 yds pass Brian’s Nurseries turn left at cross roads in Bluntingdon,
16 Proceed 1500 yds to Chaddesley Corbett (Swan Inn on right) after which reach A448 Take care and turn left to return to Rowberry’s Garden Centre (400 yds on left). Finish and teas.

Please send the slip to:

Alvin Smith Castle Cottage, Wigmore, Leominster HR6 9UA Herefordshire. 01568 770327.

Also, you can contact Alvin if you wish to purchase Major Nichols ride clothing.

Email editor at below address if you wish to contact Alvin via email.

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